'The Counts Fournier.'
- Titled: Stephen Sant Fournier, as the 9th Count
- Heir: (his son) Tyler Sant Fournier as the Contino.
The Family of Fournier's were merchants from France who were of ancient
lineage, having direct connections with Papacy Avignon in the 15th century
with Pope Benedict XII (pope 1332-1342), formerly Jacques Fournier. "You have elected a jackass!" cried Jacques Fournier when to his astonishment he found that he had been elected on the first ballot. But the self-styled jackass was actually the outstanding theologian in the college of cardinals. Jacques Fournier was born at Saverdun in Southern France. He became a Cistercian monk, studied theology at Paris, and rose to be bishop of Pamiers and later of Mirepoix. Pope John XXII made him a cardinal in 1327 and depended upon his theological knowledge in the struggles which marked that Pontiff's stormy reign. Elected unanimously on the first ballot, Jacques chose the name Benedict XII.
At first Benedict toyed with the idea of going back to Rome. From the
Eternal City came urgent invitations. But Romans were still turbulent and Avignon was quiet and pleasant. Far from leaving, Benedict began to build that huge fort of a palace which is the landmark of the Avignon exile. Since Benedict had been a fervent monk, the "spiritual" Franciscan minority
hoped that the new Pope would be more favorable to them. But Benedict was a great lover of obedience and orthodoxy, and he soon showed the recalcitrant friars that the monk Pope had much the same ideas as his canonlawyer predecessor. He worked hard to reform religious orders. One outstanding measure was his determined effort to get wandering monks and friars back into cloister. A number of maladjusted religious had been roaming the roads seeking adventure and, of course, giving no end of scandal.
Benedict did his best to shepherd this wandering flock back into the fold. He enacted other measures which helped the Benedictines, and in general did much to check abuses and foster regularity in religious houses.
Benedict also tried to reform the abuses which were creeping into the Roman court. And he gave to all a shining example of detachment by his steady refusal to enrich his relatives. He loved peace so much that he declared he would not fight even to preserve the papal kingdom. When the storm clouds which warned of the coming Hundred Years' War loomed, Benedict exerted himself to dissipate them. Pro-French he may have been to the extent of creating a great majority of French cardinals, but when war threatened, he showed himself a truly impartial peacemaker. Unfortunately he succeeded only in postponing the terrible war.
Benedict XII has been praised by some of his contemporaries and harshly
criticized by others. This is not strange, for he was a pious man and an
earnest reformer. Reforms tread on toes and cause anguished outcries.
Besides, Petrarch did not like Benedict because he would not come back to Rome, and the fight with Louis the Bavarian still went on.
History has done justice to this holy and learned Pope. If he had any
weakness it was in the field of diplomacy. His simple monastic outlook was ill-attuned to the complexities of high policy.
Benedict XII died on April 25, 1342.
The Fournier's held Seignuerships in Southern France, dating back to Hugh Capet in the 10th Century. Many descendants claim lineage through this family whom traveled in search for fortune. One descendant being Geronimo Fournier, a Merchant (mercante di drappi con bottega aperta sposo' Marilhena) in the Mediterranean Sea with 'The Duchy of Savoy', Grand Ducal of Tuscany, the Papal States, Duchy of Parma and the Kingdoms of Sardinia and the Two Sicilies (Including the Isles of Malta) where Geronimo Fournier eventually settled and made Malta a base to expand his business to Africa, and later the Ottoman Empires.
His son Lazzaro Fournier upon age of command of a fleet, also a Merchant who went to France, and married Ariete de Pausier 'An heiress of another Merchant family in Southern France'.
Due to the great success of the ever progressing fleet of merchant ships, their son was sent to and educated in the Austrian Army in Tuscany along with several other Maltese young men (including a future brother in-law Salvatore Baldassare Sant).
A successful career developed with the Austrian Army with promotions to
Captain along with his brother in-law. Also married to his best friend's
sister Aloisea Sant in 1733, producing a large family.
Giorgio Fournier's career in the Austrian army flourished with such heroic adventures and successions acquiring ennoblement by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Queen of Hungary, Bohemia, etc. to the title of Barone de Pausier in her Italian Provinces on 31 March 1768 at Vienna, Austria. This title was granted to his legitimate male descendants in order of primogeniture.
This title was to honour a man of such natural talent and efforts in recent wars against France and Spain.
When Ramon Despuig became Grand Master in 1736 Giorgio Fournier was nominated
Alfiere della Cavalleria. However, prominent persons who were not titled but occupied similiar posts were listed on the roll of Valetta. Amongst these we find the Fournier brothers, Giuseppe and Lazzaro, who were both Luogotenente of the Zebbug Regiment. The fact that most of the Nobility were patent holders may have been another reason why they were not included in the Ruolo, although a number of clerics are mentioned. In fact, the only four prominent families enrolled in the Ruolo were the Fournier, Crispo, Alessi, and Marchesi, all of whom were ennobled after the list was drawn up.
Upon retirement and finally returning back to Malta, Giorgio Fournier was presented with the title of Count Fournier de Pausier on the 29th of January, 1770 at Vienna with a remainder (legal term) to his descendants in the order of primogeniture. That same year of 1770 his brother in-law, Salvatore Baldassare Sant was created Count Sant to his male descendants in the order of primogeniture for services to Her Imperial Armies of Austria.
Count Giorgio Fournier was granted permission of usage of the title of
Count Fournier at the chancellery of the order of St John on the year 1775 with full recognition.
In 1776, Baron Fournier requested Lante to relieved him of his office within the tribunal of the Inquisition, as he and his family had decided to emigrate to France.
The next successor was Giorgio's son Lazzaro who held the family business in Merchant and set up an Office in Valletta. During the last Grand Master reign in Malta, was exiled with his father the Count from Malta, with associations to the Freemasons. Lazzaro left Malta followed by his father until the French had invaded Malta, and then was invited back.
During the uprising against the French, the Count Fournier had his house and goods confiscated and was banished from the city on the pretext of his brothers was an insurgent leader. This is strange as the Fournier's had always been loyal to the French and had entrusted with the first despatch to the King of Naples, only one month before.
Being of French descent, the Fournier's were part of the high society and held high positions during the French reign in Malta. Being subjected as traitors by the Maltese during this period. The family flourished during this period, with Lazzaro's younger brother Gaetano holding to the Merchant business in France, and Lazzaro in Malta.
Gaetano married into French nobility in France, his sisters Diane, marrying a Sicilian Barone in Licata and Anne marrying a Frenchman while in exile during the last period of the Knights of Malta.
Count Lazzaro Fournier, married in Malta, to the Last 'Capitano della
Verga' of Malta's niece. Modesta Gauci-Azzopardi. The grandaughter of the 1st Barone di Buleben and descendant of the Ancient noble family of Cuzkeri. The Cuzkeri, an ancient spelling, are descendants to much of the Maltese-Sicilian nobility and Royalty. This connection bringing an ancient noble blood to a new noble family of Malta.
Thus only providing an heiress to the titles and fortune. Luigia Fournier, succeeded as the 'de-jure' Countess Fournier de Pausier and married the second son of the 2nd Count Sant (a second cousin). Baldassare dei Conti Sant, a Lord Lieutenant of Mdina, and brother of the Archbishop of Malta.
Baldassare's marriage providing a new legacy of the Sant Fourniers, two
noble families uniting in blood, and creating a new family. All SANT FOURNIER'S are descendants of this union.
Baldassare dei Conti Sant was the son of the 2nd Count Sant and the 7th
Baroness of Ghariexem e Tabia, (very wealthy heiress with much estates). The Sants, later Sant Cassia's or Sant Fournier's or Sant Manduca and Sant Barbaros were one of the richest families in Malta. The wealth held was beyond belief to todays standards. A note, the Sant's were divided into several families, as mentioned above. The only family extinct in a male line are the Sant Barbaro's.
Baldassare's mother was also of ancient lineage, with connections to all
noble and landed gentries of Malta. There are several noted royal connections through this connection.
The next holder was the son of Countess Luigia and Baldassare Sant Fournier.
Lazzaro Sant Fournier succeeded as the 4th Barone de Pausier in Italy and 4th Count in Malta. Invested as a Knight of the Order of Charles III of Spain and was one of the wealthiest men in Malta.
The struggles of the Royal Commission started in Malta, where all titles
were to be presented for usage in Malta. H.M. Government finally granted
permission to the title of Count Fournier 30th of April, 1878. Thus providing recognition in the British Empire. But the title of Barone de Pausier was not acknowledged by the British Royal Commission. (Note: The title of Barone de Pausier was created in the Austrian Italian kingdoms, the descendants still carry this title today, as they still have the LEGAL and ANCIENT RIGHT to retain such title).
Lazzaro Sant Fournier married in 1838 to Adelaide dei Baroni Testaferrata Abela, the daughter of the Fifth Barone di Gomerino and his third wife, 'the Contessa Buzzi-Rainier di Velletri'. From this union produced several children, Aloisia, Clotilde, Calcidone, and 2 other children. Their daughter married into Spanish and Maltese Nobility.
Lazzaro Sant Fournier, died in 1898, living a life of change under the British.
Alfred Sant Fournier, succeeded as the 5th Count and Barone for only a few years. Alfred was fortunate to travel to London to attend the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, as a member of the Maltese Nobility. He married in 1869 to a Maltese-Italian Banking and Noble family provided the family with a Bank to their realms, and many other priceless treasures. Olga dei Conti Tagliaferro eventually became the sole heiress to the Tagliaferro Banking House.
Alfred had three sons (Hugo, Edward and Charles), Hugo and Edward were
twins, though Hugo being the elder of the twins, and unable due to his
sickly condition, the title remain dormant until his death in 1910, when his younger twin, Edward succeeded as the 6th Count.
Edward married Esther Testaferrata Bonici Ghaxaq dei Marchese Testaferrata e San Vincenzo Ferreri e dei Baroni Qlejjgha, the daughter of the 6th Marchese and 5th Baron. From this connection, providing much connections to most of the present Maltese nobility.
Edward died in 1951 and was succeeded by his son Alfred, as the 7th Count Fournier.
Alfred married in 1935 to Eileen Donovan.
Alfred died in 1973, a year before the Republic of Malta was installed, and was succeeded by his eldest son Alfred, as the 8th and Present Count Fournier and the 8th Baron de Pausier.
Alfred's death on the last day of 2002 was quite a shock to all his family and his friends. He was a gentleman to all who had knew him and one of the last true nobles in Malta, who stood the test of time during the darkest periods of Maltese nobility.
His eldest son Stephen, succeeded to the titles of Count Fournier, Baron de Pausier de Fournier, Hereditary Knight of the Holy Roman Empire, Patrican of Messina and Rome. "Illustrissimo e Nobile" (The Most Illustrious and Noble) Count Fournier resides in Malta and in England.
References:
Some sections excerpted from "Popes Through the Ages" by Joseph Brusher, S.J. Electronic version copyright © 1996 New Advent, Inc.
This Research was researched by Charles Said-Vassallo
(Text originally based on that of a website by Charles Said Vassallo, by permission.)
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